The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-30
-SENATORSd
~teps' Canal

About all the real SSs.scGiiyed from the
'lsthmus of Panama respecting the progress
OF the canal are unfavorable. The latest
report, that of NJ. Arthur w Roudier, who
held for ten months an official position I'M
der the Panama Canal Company, and who
reached New York a few days ago, shows
that the work on the canal is being pushed
forward very slowly. There has been a
great reduction of the working force, and
there is considerable dissatisfaction among
the laborers on account of the irregularity
with which they receive their wages The
death rate is very large from the Chagres
fever, and there is also at the present time
an epidemic ON the isthmus of yellow fever
and smallpox. From the very beginning
of the enterprise there has been a great
waste of money, owing chiefly to the
placing of incompetent men in responsible
positions. The same incompetency is notice
able now that was apparent in the earlier
stages of the work. The great need at
present, however. is money. With plenty of
that the canal may be completed within ten
years. There are competent engineers,
however, who say that if all the money that
is wanted is promptly furnished, and If an
entire change is made in the methods pur-
sued in carrying ON the work, it can, under
the direction of engineers qualified for their
duties, be completed within five years.
There is not much probability, however,
that the conditions for finishing it within
the shorter time mentioned can be secured.
The stockholders and directors will have
ameeting in Paris, within q few days, and it
will be determined then perhaps how more
money is to be raised. Without money,
and plenty of it, the company will soon go
to pieces, and the enterprise will be aban-
doned, at least for the present
There is some complaint in this country
that M, de Lesseps has not received the en-
enlargement that he deserves, and that it is
apparent that there is a desire that the
enterprise shall prove to be failure. Doubt
less there are some who would rejoice if the
canal should be abandoned either because
they want to see canal constructed on the
Nicaragua route with American money and
under American direction, or because they
predicted at the outset that the Panama
undertaking would be a failure and want
their prediction to be verified, but it is
probable that the great majority of Ameri-
cans, especially those who have given the
subject considerable attention, would like
to see it a success. The comments on the
progress of the work have not, as q rule,
been favorable, because the reports have
not been favorable. They have received their
coloring from the reports and it will hardly
be denied that the reports have contained
very little that has been encouraging.
This country is deeply interested in having
the isthnus pierced. A canal would not
only greatly benefit our commerce, but
would bring about a very considerable re-
duction in freights between points on the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans The fact that
Americans have put no money in the under
taking does not prove that Americans have
no interest in its success They have not
invested in it because the Panama Company
is foreign one, and they were
not willing to trust their money
to men about whom they know nothing, and
who might waste the company's capital
without securing any definite results.
All things considered, this country has
given the canal about as much material and
moral assistance as could reasonably be ex-
pected of it. If de Lesseps' company fails
Americans may take hold of the canal and
complete it.